Holding device

ABSTRACT

A holding device for a first container and a second container where the second container may have a upper lip and the first container may have no lower lip. The holding device may include a bottom cylinder wall to frictionally engage an upper lip of the second container. and the holding device may include a truncated cone shaped wall to frictionally engage the first container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stackable container assemblies and more particularly to a container holding device for holding different types of containers vertically.

BACKGROUND

Various types of stackable container assemblies are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,636 discloses a stackable container assembly including a plurality of equal diameter cylindrical containers. A connector for securing the containers in coaxial stacked relation includes first and second cylindrical side walls which intersect at a transverse circular partition. Circular undercut grooves are provided on each of the side walls and are dimensioned to frictionally engage top and bottom peripheral rims on the containers. The connector may form a removable lid for one of the containers and may be utilized to package snack food items for marketing.

However, these types of devices are not suitable when the container does not include the peripheral rim for frictional engagement.

SUMMARY

A holding device for a first container and a second container where the second container may have a upper lip and the first container may have no lower lip. The holding device may include a bottom cylinder wall to frictionally engage an upper lip of the second container, and the holding device may include a truncated cone shaped wall to frictionally engage the first container.

The holding device may be detachably connected to the first container.

The holding device may be detachably connected to the second container.

The holding device may include truncated cone shaped wall connected to the bottom cylinder wall.

The holding device may include a locking tab to frictionally engage the upper lip of the second container.

The locking tab may include a horizontal surface.

The locking tab may include an inclined surface.

The holding device may include a upper cylinder ring wall being connected to the bottom cylinder wall by a post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the first holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the second holding device of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom view of the second holding device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides stackable containers which may be beverage containers being detachably connected (connected, detached and reconnected) in a secured coaxial orientation which may be a vertical orientation and the first container 111 may be a different size, different material, different shape than the second container 109. As described below, the second container may have a upper lip 113 which may cooperate with it is the first holding device 100 or the second holding device 201 to form a friction fit, but the first container 111 may not have the lip (a bottom lip) positioned at the intersection of the bottom and side surface of the first container.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the first holding device 100 of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall 107 which may form a detachably connected (connected, detached and reconnected) friction fit with the second container 109 which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip 113 which may extend around the top surface of the second container 109.

The base holding cylinder wall 105 may include an inward extending locking tab 119 which may include a horizontal surface 115 and a inclined surface 117 to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 119 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 105. The base holding cylinder wall 105 may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall 121 which may include radial fingers 123 which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall 121 and which may be between a pair of slots 125 positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The radial fingers 123 may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container 111. The truncated cone shaped wall 121 may include apertures 127 which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The first holding device 100 may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material.

The first holding device 100 includes an inward extending vertical wall 129 which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall 121 in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 and the horizontal surface 115 in order to hold the first container 111 to the second container 109. The first holding device 100 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first holding device 100 of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall 107 which may form a detachable connection (connected, detached and reconnected) with a friction fit with the second container 109 which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip 113 which may extend around the top surface of the second container 109.

The base holding cylinder wall 105 may include an inward extending locking tab 119 which may include a horizontal surface 115 and a inclined surface 117 to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 119 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 105. The base holding cylinder wall 105 may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall 121 which may include radial fingers 123 which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall 121 and which may be between a pair of slots 125 positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The radial fingers 123 may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container 111. The truncated cone shaped wall 121 may include apertures 127 which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The first holding device 100 may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material.

The first holding device 100 includes an inward extending vertical wall 129 which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall 121 in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 and the horizontal surface 115 in order to hold the first container 111 to the second container 109. The first holding device 100 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a top and bottom view respectively of the first holding device 100 of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall 107 which may form a friction fit with the second container 109 which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip 113 which may extend around the top surface of the second container 109.

The base holding cylinder wall 105 may include an inward extending locking tab 119 which may include a horizontal surface 115 and a inclined surface 117 to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 119 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 105. The base holding cylinder wall 105 may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall 121 which may include radial fingers 123 which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall 121 and which may be between a pair of slots 125 positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The radial fingers 123 may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container 111. The truncated cone shaped wall 121 may include apertures 127 which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall 121. The first holding device 100 may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material.

The first holding device 100 includes an inward extending vertical wall 129 which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall 121 in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 and the horizontal surface 115 in order to hold the first container 111 to the second container 109. The first holding device 100 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the first container 111, the second container 109 and the first holding device 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled view of the first container 111, the second container 109 and the first holding device 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device 201 of the present invention, and the second holding device 201 may include a base holding cylinder wall 205 to provide a friction fit with the second container 109. The second holding device 201 maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device 201 may additionally include holding post 231 to connect the base holding cylinder wall 205 and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall 233 which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container 111 and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post 231 may be rigid or flexible.

The base holding cylinder wall 205 may include an inward extending locking tab 219 which may include a horizontal surface 215 and a inclined surface 217 to cooperate with the upper lip 213 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 219 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 205.

In addition, the second holding device 201 may include a discontinuous horizontal wall 237 which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall 205 and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the second container 109.

The second holding device 201 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be detachably connected and positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second holding device 201 of the present invention, and the second holding device 201 may include a base holding cylinder wall 205 to provide a friction fit with the second container 109. The second holding device 201 maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device 201 may additionally include holding post 231 to connect the base holding cylinder wall 205 and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall 233 which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container 111 and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post 231 may be rigid or flexible.

The base holding cylinder wall 205 may include an inward extending locking tab 219 which may include a horizontal surface 215 and a inclined surface 217 to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 219 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 205.

In addition, the second holding device 201 may include a discontinuous horizontal wall 237 which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall 205 and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the second container 109.

The second holding device 201 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates a top and bottom view respectively of the second holding device 201 of the present invention, and the second holding device 201 may include a base holding cylinder wall 205 to provide a friction fit with the second container 109. The second holding device 201 maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device 201 may additionally include holding post 231 to connect the base holding cylinder wall 205 and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall 233 which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container 111 and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post 231 may be rigid or flexible.

The base holding cylinder wall 205 may include an inward extending locking tab 219 which may include a horizontal surface 215 and a inclined surface 217 (not shown) to cooperate with the upper lip 213 of the of the second container 109. There may be multiple locking tabs 219 spaced around the base holding cylinder wall 205.

In addition, the second holding device 201 may include a discontinuous horizontal wall 237 (not shown) which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall 205 and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip 113 of the second container 109.

The second holding device 201 permits the first container 111 and the second container 109 to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device 201, the first container 111 and the second container 109 being detachably connected together in a secure position

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1) A holding device for a first container and a second container, comprising: the second container having a upper lip; the first container having no lower lip; wherein the holding device includes a bottom cylinder wall to frictionally engage an upper lip of the second container; and wherein the holding device includes a truncated cone shaped wall to frictionally engage the first container. 2) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 1, wherein the holding device is detachably connected to the first container. 3) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 1, wherein the holding device is detachably connected to the second container. 4) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a truncated cone shaped wall connected to the bottom cylinder wall. 5) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a locking tab to frictionally engage the upper lip of the second container. 6) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 5, wherein the locking tab includes a horizontal surface. 7) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 5, wherein the locking tab includes an inclined surface. 8) A holding device for a first container and a second container as in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a upper cylinder ring wall being connected to the bottom cylinder wall by a post. 